Leslee and I have made a commitment to try to catch as much of the Code Orange Revival as we can.  We’re leaning in, wanting to hear what God has to say through some powerful voices of our day.  Tonight we listened to Matt Chandler.  Matt’s story and faith are unreal, his ministry and preaching anointed.  Here are some key takeaways from tonight.

“Happiness and joy are not the same thing. Happiness can be taken from you in a second; ultimately you don’t control happiness. I am not interested in boosting your happiness – I believe it’s cheap and it will not sustain you for the journey God has you on.  I’m after your joy, and sometimes getting to joy stings.”

You live long enough, you’ll bleed. You’ll experience loss. Your strength will fail you. (Ecclesiastes 12)

Read Psalm 23 wrong, and you’ll think it’s all about you – “God is really into me.”  But God’s motivation is always his glory, his name, his renown.  All through the Scriptures, the works of God are expressed “for the glory of HIS name”.

Everything you own is the stuff of future garage sales and dumps.  Only Jesus remains.

God loves to use guys it doesn’t make much sense to use.

I’m gonna make much of me through you, so let’s go. And I’m gonna wound you along the way because I love you too much to let you get puff-headed. So I’m gonna wound you, give you tears, give you enemies – because i love you so much and it’s all for the praise of my glorious grace.

Since God is for himself above being for you – two huge things:

• He is not after my begrudging submission; he’s about my joy. Heaven isn’t a place for people who don’t want hell, it’s a place for people who love God.  All the commands of God are to lead you into greater life and greater joy, rather than your way – which doesn’t work.  Greater life is found in obedience.

• If God is about God, then you are not the center of the universe.

Almost all the conflict in your life is built on your belief that the world is about you. The more the world is about you, the more angry and tired you’ll be.  The more it’s not about you, the more free you’ll be.

The Apostle Paul…untouchable. you couldn’t do anything to him, couldn’t touch him.  Shipwrecked, stoned, beaten, etc.

• “We’ll kill you.” To die is gain.
• “We’ll leave you alone.” To live is Christ.
• “We’ll torture you.”  I do not consider these sufferings to compare with the glory ahead.
• “We’re gonna put you in prison.”  Well give me a hymnal, cuz I’m going to convert your guards.
  

Couldn’t touch him – in all things he was free!

God so owns the glory in your salvation that no one should walk with a swagger, and no one should walk with a limp.

Israel never did well with the blessing, they only did well with a whack to the head.

Is anyone a worse enemy to you then you are? anyone lied to you more than you have?

The law was given because you can’t, and in your can’t you’ll look for a Savior.

God is not in love with some future version of you.  The cross of Christ is this glaring acknowledgment that all of us fall short.

Being a church person and not a Jesus person is like being engaged but not married; it’s miserable.

If you can catch a night or two – I really encourage you to.  I’m being fed, stretched, convicted, and inspired.  You might, too.  Click here for info.